We can learn several key lessons from Jesus’ parable of the vine and branches. These are lessons of entire sanctification, perfect conformity, absolute dependence, and undoubting confidence.
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good” (1 Peter 2:1–3; part 2 of a series).
“So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.”
Perhaps one of the worst sins is one that almost all of us have, but few confess. We do not notice it in ourselves, but we recoil when we see it in others. That sin is pride.
If we choose to accept God’s wisdom, we will seem foolish to the world. We will think like Jesus thinks, worship like Jesus worshiped, love as Jesus loves, and forgive as He has forgiven us.
Idolatry is not only about praying to graven images. Greed and elevating any person or thing before God are forms of idolatry. Here are a few ways to decide if you are an idolator.
“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).